Neiman Marcus Drops ‘Christmas’ From Iconic Gift Catalog, Sparking Employee Backlash

High-end retailer Neiman Marcus has made a significant change to its iconic annual gift catalog, removing the word “Christmas” and rebranding it as the “Holiday Book.” This decision has sparked frustration among some employees, who criticize the company’s move as an example of “woke politics,” according to the New York Post.

The 98-year-old catalog, known for its extravagant Christmas gifts, now features luxurious items without traditional holiday imagery or any mention of “Christmas” on the cover. This year’s edition, titled “A Neiman’s Fantasy,” includes gifts such as a $777,777 safari in Namibia and a $1.9 million royal carriage.

Employees at Neiman Marcus’s Dallas headquarters were not informed of the change beforehand and learned about it through media reports. Some have expressed dissatisfaction, pointing fingers at CEO Geoffroy van Raemdonck for prioritizing diversity and inclusion over business performance. This criticism comes on the heels of last year’s announcement that 5% of the workforce would be cut, despite record cash bonuses in the previous two years.

One employee told The Post, “If Geoffroy and his team put as much time into running the business as they did on expressing viewpoints about DEI, we would be buying Saks or launching an IPO. Instead, my job is at risk because of our business failure.”

Neiman Marcus defended the rebrand, stating that the change was made “in the spirit of inclusivity as it welcomes customers of all backgrounds, religions and traditions to celebrate the season.”

This holiday season will be Neiman Marcus’s last before being acquired by Saks Fifth Avenue parent HBC in a $2.65 billion deal set to close soon.